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Exciting, beautiful, interesting, educational … These are just some of the adjectives to describe the journey! Make difficult choices: to leave their country, leave their families, leave a part of themselves to leave for a fantastic adventure.
I am currently staying in Ireland for a period of four months, specifically in Cork, one of the major towns in the green Ireland.
Only now I am conscious of how they felt my parents to emigrate from their country, where they have friends, family, etc. We were immigrants in Italy and now 15 years later I find myself to be re-migrant, and I find it a life experience that every person should address.
In this short article I want to introduce my family, and through some questions, I show you what they think of travelling and about my experience abroad.
Let me introduce my parents: their names are Fatima and Mbarek, they are migrant Moroccans become Italian citizens, are the person whom I respect the most in this world.
(As-salāmu ʿalaykum is a greeting in Arabic that means “peace be upon you“)
As-salāmu ʿalaykum mum As-salāmu ʿalaykum dad! I am gonna ask you some questions about your feelings on my stay in Cork and about your travel. Let’s start with the first question!
Have you ever studied or lived abroad?
F: I was in France and Spain by some relatives. Last year I was with your dad in Saudi Arabia to Mecca for the Islamic ritual pilgrimage.
M: I was also in France with my father when I was little, then I moved several times in Spain, I travelled all over Morocco, I lived and worked for a short time in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Palestine.
Why did you decide to go abroad?
F: I was pushed by my parents to visit old relatives living abroad.
And it was a great experience.
M: Curiosity. I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures and new places.
What prompted you to leave Morocco?
F: To have a better future and make a better future for you and your brothers.
M: To improve the lives of our families and to enrich us culturally.
Why did you let your son go abroad?
F: You’ve made a choice that we respect, we let you go abroad so that you can grow. Is an opportunity that will bring you many benefits in the future.
M: You have to experience, see new things, learn new things, grow, travel is an experience that can teach you all these things.
How do you live with the distance?
F/M: We miss you!
F: Fortunately there is Skype, so we almost always see you, even if it’s not the same thing.
M: There was a Lebanese writer “Kahlil Gibran” who wrote a nice phrase to describe the distance, I cite literally: A “son” who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?
